Container

ABSTRACT

A container for carrying and pouring flowable materials having a bucket portion with a side portion, a closed bottom portion and an upper rim area at least partially defining an open top; a handle attached near or on the upper rim area; at least three gripping surfaces located in the closed bottom portion of the bucket portion to permit multiple means of gripping the container. A method for dispensing flowable materials having the steps of gripping a handle rotatably affixed to a container having material therein with a first hand, wherein at least a portion of the handle is located above a discharge opening of the container; gripping a gripping surface located about the middle of the bottom of the container with a second hand; and tipping the container to discharge material from within the container using the first hand and the handle as a pivot point while lifting the bottom of the container with the second hand gripping the gripping surface.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from U.S. provisional application Ser.No. 60/570,996, filed on May 14, 2004 and PCT/US2005/016762, filed onMay 13, 2005, the entirety of which are expressly incorporated herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to an apparatus for use in connectionwith containers or similar products. More particularly, the inventionrelates to containers that have bottoms to facilitate handling.

Containers have proven very useful for transporting items and thenpouring or dumping the items from the container. For example, containersare used in the restaurant business to transport ice. A container isfilled with ice. The container is then moved to the desired location andtilted, thereby dumping the ice. To facilitate transportation andusefulness, containers may have a handle. Commonly, this handle is apiece of metal wire attached at two points on the container. These twopoints are usually positioned equal distance from one another around anopening in the container.

Containers have also been modified to increase the ease with whichmaterial may be poured or dumped from the container. For example, ahandle or gripping surface may be positioned on the container. Suchhandles or gripping surfaces allow a user to more firmly grab thecontainer during the pouring or dumping process. The handle or grippingsurface may be positioned on the side of the container or around theperiphery of the bottom of the container. U.S. Pat. No. 1,173,305 toPhelan discloses a handle or gripping surface positioned on the side ofthe container. United States Patent Publication Number 2003/0116577 toSlongo et, al. discloses handles near the top of the container and twogripping surfaces located across from one another around the outer sideof the bottom of a container.

A handle or gripping surface positioned on the side or the periphery ofthe bottom of the container may provide a leverage point for easierpouring or dumping of material from the container. However, such handlesor gripping surfaces only provide a user with a single leverage point.In order to lift, carry, pour, and/or dump heavy or awkward materials, auser may desire to have several different leverage points at which tosecurely grab a container. For example, a user may desire to grabdifferent leverage points based on the user's height, the amount ofmaterial in the container, the height of the area into which thematerial in the container is to be poured or dumped, or otherperformance characteristics.

Still further, when such containers are used to transport ice or otherproduct where contamination is an issue, present designs do not permitsuch containers to be picked up from the ground without the user's handtouching the ground. As a result, once a transported material is pouredout of the container and the user engages the material for smoothing,dispensing or other rearrangement, if the user's hand comes in contactwith the material, any unsanitary material picked up from the floor whenthe container was picked up will contaminate the material.

Current containers suffer from certain drawbacks and limitations.Accordingly, a need exists for a container that is easy to use,relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and solves other problemsassociated with the existing designs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment of the present invention, a container has a bottomwith at least three gripping surfaces. Two gripping surfaces arepositioned around the outer edge of the bottom. Another gripping surfaceis positioned in about the middle of the bottom. In one embodiment, thegripping surfaces are formed by two indentations in the bottom. Theindentations provide areas into which a user may place his or herfingers, thumbs, or palms.

In another embodiment of the present invention, leg extensions areprovided that lift the majority of the bottom of the container off theground. The leg extensions lift the bottom of the container enough sothat a user can slip his hands under the container to engage one of thegripping surfaces without contacting the floor on which the container isresting.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the detailed description, claims, and accompanyingdrawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is front view of a container in accordance with one embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the bottom of a container of FIG. 1taken along the plan 5-5 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of the bottom of the container of FIG.1, separated from the container;

FIG. 7 is a front view of a container in accordance with a secondembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is side view of the container of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the container of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the container of FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Illustrative embodiments of a container (identified generally as 30) inaccordance with the present invention are shown in FIGS. 1 through 6.

The container 30 has a bottom 32, a handle 33, a top portion 35 and amouth 37. As shown in FIGS. 2-8, the bottom 32 has at least threedistinct gripping surfaces 34, 35, 36. Preferably, the gripping surfaces34, 35, 36 are separated by at least one indentation 38 in the bottom 32of the container 30. Most preferably as shown in FIG. 3, the bottom hastwo indentations 38, 39 that are about equally spaced from the outeredge of the bottom 32 of the container 30. As shown in FIG. 3, theindentations 38, 39 divide the bottom 32 into at least three distinctgripping surfaces 34, 35, 36. Two gripping surfaces 34 and 35 areprovided along the outer edge of the bottom 32 of the container 30. Onegripping surface 36 is provided about in the middle of the bottom 32 ofthe container 30.

Preferably, there multiple indentations 38 and 39, although only oneneed be provided. Where more than one indentation is employed, suchindentations are preferably evenly spaced on the bottom portion 32.Where two indentations are provided, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 6, theindentations are preferably approximately about 1.5 inches deep wherethe bottom of the container has a diameter of about 10.75 inches. Wherethe container is reduced or enlarged in size, the depth of theindentations 38 and 39 is preferably in the range of approximately about10-20% of the diameter of the bottom of the container. Similarly, wheretwo indentations are provided, they are preferably spaced apart from oneanother by a distance of approximately about 20-25% of the diameter ofthe closed bottom portion and preferably spaced apart from the outerperipheral edge 41 of the bottom of the container by a distance ofapproximately about 15-20% of the diameter of the bottom portion 32.Each of the indentations preferably has a width of approximately about15-25% of the diameter of the bottom portion 32.

The gripping surfaces 34, 35, 36 and indentations 38, 39 may take anynumber of forms. For example, the gripping surfaces 34, 35, 36 andindentations 38, 39 may be ergonomically designed to fit with a user'shand for a more secure grip. In another example, the indentations 38, 39may be formed so as to provide a ridge or other structure on a grippingsurface 34, 35, 36 or in the indentations 38, 39 themselves so that auser may have a better hold on the bottom 32 of the container 30. Thegripping surfaces 34, 35, 36 and/or indentations 38, 39 may also haveribs, bumps, or other features so that a user's hold on the bottom 32may be more secure. Regardless of the form of the gripping surfaces 34,35, 36 and the indentations 38, 39, the bottom 32 is preferably designedso that the container 30 rests flat on a surface. In addition, thebottom 32 may be configured to meet safety and health standards, such asthose set forth by the National Sanitation Foundation.

The bottom 32 may be formed as part of the container 30 or may be aseparate piece fit onto or attached to the container 30. Where thebottom is a separate piece, it is intended to be affixed to thecontainer 30 such that it does not separate therefrom. In other words,the bottom 32 is not intended to function as a removable lid. The bottom32 may be part of or added on to any type of container such as a bucket,ice tote, food container, cooler or the like. As shown in FIGS. 1-6, thebottom 32 may have additional structures provided thereon to improve thefunctionality of the container. For example, the bottom 32 may have ahook or hanging recess 40. The recess 40 may be used to selectivelyattach the bottom 32 and/or the container to a rack or other structurefor storage.

The three distinct gripping surfaces 34, 35, 36 on the bottom 32 allow auser to grab the bottom 32 of the container 30 with a variety of grips.For example, a user facing the container 30 may grab gripping surface 34with an underhand grip. With this grip, a user's fingers are generallypositioned in indentation 38 and his or her palm is in selective contactwith the gripping surface 34. The user's thumb may be positioned alongthe outer edge of the bottom 32 or in the closest indentation 38. Thisgrip allows a user to tip the container 30 without lifting the containerabove his or her waist. In another example, a user may grab the innergripping surface 36 with an underhand grip. With this grip, a user'sfingers are positioned in indentation 39 and his or her palm is inselective contact with the inner gripping surface 36. The user's thumbmay be positioned in either indentation 38 or indentation 39. This gripallows a user to tip the container more than the first grippingposition. Users may also use the inner gripping surface 38 when thecontainer is held between a user's waist and shoulder. Once thecontainer is raised a certain degree, a user may reverse his or her gripon the inner gripping surface 38 to an overhand grip. The user's fingersare now positioned in indentation 38. In still another example, a usermay grab either outer gripping surface 34 or 35 with an overhand gripwhen the container 30 is held at or above the user's shoulder level.When a user grabs outer gripping surface 34 with such a grip, the user'sfingers are generally positioned in indentation 38 and his or her thumbis positioned on the outer edge of the bottom 32.

By providing three distinct gripping surfaces 34, 35, 36, the bottom 32allows a user to tilt the container 30 varying degrees and hold thecontainer at various positions. The ability for a user to grab agripping surface and employ different grips on a gripping surface 34,35, 36 reduces the amount of effort required to pour or dump materialfrom a container 30. Further, this structure provides a user with themeans to achieve a more secure grip thereby minimizing accidentalspillage of material from the container 30.

In a second embodiment of the present invention, shown in FIGS. 7-10, apair of leg extensions 42 is provided. The extensions 42 lift themajority of the bottom 32 of the container 30 off the surface on whichit rests. The second embodiment also preferably includes raised bottomareas 44 and 46. The combination of the extensions 42 and the raisedbottom areas 44 and 46, permit a user to slip his hands under thecontainer 30 to engage one of the gripping surfaces 34 or 35 withoutcontacting the surface on which the container 30 is resting.

Preferably the leg extensions 42 are integral with and molded into thebottom 32 of the container 30. While this is preferable, it is notnecessary to the function of the present invention. Similarly, the legextensions 42 are preferably in the form of two elongated parallelsections that do not impinge on any of the gripping surfaces 34, 35 or36. While this is the preferable shape because of its sturdiness andaesthetics, leg extensions 42 could be made in the form of multipleindependent shafts or the like and still perform the same function.

The container 30 of the present invention may have other applicationsaside from use in connection with ice, liquid, or other materials.Further, the invention may be implemented in a variety ofconfigurations, using certain features or aspects of the severalembodiments described herein and others known in the art. Thus, althoughthe invention has been herein shown and described in what is perceivedto be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to beunderstood that the invention is not intended to be limited to thespecific features and embodiments set forth above. Rather, it isrecognized that modifications may be made by one of skill in the art ofthe invention without departing from the spirit or intent of theinvention and, therefore, the invention is to be taken as including allreasonable equivalents to the subject matter of the claims.

1. A container for carrying and pouring flowable materials comprising: abucket portion having a side portion, a closed bottom portion and anupper rim area at least partially defining an open top; a handleattached near or on said upper rim area; and at least three grippingsurfaces located in said closed bottom portion of said bucket portion topermit multiple means of gripping said container.
 2. A containeraccording to claim 1, wherein said gripping surfaces are at leastpartially defined by a plurality of depressions in said closed bottomportion of said bucket portion.
 3. A container according to claim 2,wherein said closed bottom portion has an outer peripheral edge andwherein said plurality of depressions are spaced apart from said outerperipheral edge.
 4. A container according to claim 2, wherein saidplurality of depressions are spaced apart from one another and are eachdefined by a plurality of sidewalls and a bottom wall.
 5. A containeraccording to claim 4, wherein said plurality of depressions are spacedapart from one another by a distance of approximately about 20-25% ofthe diameter of the closed bottom portion.
 6. A container according toclaim 4, wherein at least one of said plurality of depressions has adepth of approximately about 1.5 inches.
 7. A container according toclaim 4, wherein at least one of said plurality of depressions is spacedapart from said outer peripheral edge by a distance of approximatelyabout 15-20% of the diameter of the closed bottom portion.
 8. Acontainer according to claim 7, wherein all of said plurality ofdepressions are spaced apart from said outer peripheral edge by adistance of approximately about 15-20% of the diameter of the closedbottom portion.
 9. A container according to claim 4, wherein at leastone of said plurality of depressions has a width of approximately about15-25% of the diameter of the closed bottom portion.
 10. A containeraccording to claim 9, wherein each of said plurality of depressions hasa width of approximately about 15-25% of the diameter of the closedbottom portion.
 11. A container according to claim 4, wherein the spacebetween said plurality of depressions and the space between saidplurality of depressions and said outer peripheral edge are at leastpartially raised surfaces relative to said bottom walls of saidplurality of depressions.
 12. A container according to claim 11, whereinat least one of said gripping surfaces is defined by the side portion ofthe bucket portion, an at least partially raised surface between one ofsaid plurality of depressions and said outer peripheral edge, and one ofsaid side walls of one of said plurality of depressions.
 13. A containeraccording to claim 11, wherein at least one of said gripping surfaces isdefined by one sidewall of each of two of said plurality of depressionsand the at least partially raised surface between the two of saidplurality of depressions.
 14. A container according to claim 11, whereeach of said gripping surfaces is at least partially defined by one ofsaid at least partially raised surfaces.
 15. A container according toclaim 1, wherein said each gripping surface can be gripped by the entirehand of user.
 16. A container according to claim 1, wherein the width ofeach said gripping surface is about at least one-fifth of the diameterof said closed bottom portion of said bucket portion.
 17. A containeraccording claim 1, further comprising leg extensions lifting said closedbottom portion of said container off of a surface on which saidcontainer is placed.
 18. A container according to claim 17, wherein saidleg extensions comprise two substantially parallel supports that do notimpinge on any of said gripping surfaces.
 19. A container according toclaim 17, wherein said leg extensions lift said closed bottom portion ofsaid container off a surface supporting said container an amountsufficient to permit a user's hand to grasp one of said grippingsurfaces without contacting the surface.
 20. A controlled method ofdischarging material from a container comprising: gripping a handlerotatably affixed to a container having material therein with a firsthand, wherein at least a portion of said handle is located above adischarge opening of said container; gripping a gripping surface locatedabout the middle of the bottom of said container with a second hand; andtipping said container to discharge material from within said containerusing said first hand and said handle as a pivot point while lifting thebottom of said container with said second hand gripping said grippingsurface.
 21. A controlled method of discharging material from acontainer comprising: gripping a handle rotatably affixed to a containerhaving material therein with a first hand, wherein at least a portion ofsaid handle is located above a discharge opening of said container;gripping a gripping surface located along the peripheral bottom edge ofsaid container with a second hand; holding said container at or abovehead height such that said gripping surface is substantially engaged byat least the majority of the second hand; tipping said container todischarge material from within said container using said first hand andsaid handle as a pivot point while lifting the bottom of said containerwith said second hand gripping said gripping surface.